Activities

Family

Australia’s Coastal Wilderness Adventures

Indoors or out, from animal encounters to adventure challenges we have experiences the whole family will enjoy.

Our outdoor experiences are like nothing else on earth. You can touch a native diamond python, catch a fish, learn to surf, tear up a mountain bike trail or spend time in the tree tops. Indoors there is a lot for the whole family to do, you can feed the fish, explore our marine world, discover our heritage and get your hands on a number of fun activities.

Each summer holidays, the region puts on a great program of activities – check in with your nearest Visitor Information Centre to learn more.

Oaklands Barn & Garden Centre

The kids will really enjoy our animal nursery, where they can experience animals close up.

Oaklands is home to several businesses, including the Oaklands Barn that carries a wide range of stock feeds, farm and landscaping supplies. There’s also a wonderful nursery and gift shop stocked with a huge range of plants and garden ornaments.

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Bega Cheese Heritage Centre

Bega Cheese Heritage Centre.

The Bega Cheese Heritage Centre is set on the site of Bega Cheese, one of Australia’s tastiest and most famous products.

While you are here you can taste all the different dairy treats made by Bega Cheese or choose a meal to enjoy in the restaurant. Wander among the tools of the trade in the museum, gaze over lush green fields, and learn about the history of dairying and Bega Cheese in the Bega Valley. There’s also a gift shop and local art and craft gallery, along with visitor information.

The Bega Visitor Information Centre is located at the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre and the volunteers there will assist you with any questions you may have about Bega or the Sapphire Coast.

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Potoroo Palace

A koala at Potoroo Palace Native Animal Sanctuary.

Savour the rare opportunity to see a koala, wander among the kangaroos, touch a snake, stroll through the cooling mist of the walk-through aviary, feed an emu or grab a snack for yourself at the Blue Wren Café.

Potoroo Palace is an animal sanctuary and a not-for-profit organisation that is home to many species of Australian animals. Many of the animals at the sanctuary are native to the Merimbula area and some are very rare now. Some animals roam freely in the park, and others you can meet in special one-on-one close encounters.

Potoroo Palace is now open 7 days per week throughout the year from 10am to 4pm (closed Christmas Day).

There are animal talks at 11am & 2pm and train rides for the kids.

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Sapphire Aquatic Centre

From babies to adults and non-swimmers to competitive athletes, the Sapphire Aquatic Centre offers swimming programs to suit everyone’s needs. All teachers and coaches are fully qualified and undergo regular professional development to ensure that the best possible learning experiences for patrons.

The centre is well equipped for those with special needs. The building is wheelchair accessible and has reserved car parking spaces. Onsite is a patient hoist, portable shower trolley and a dedicated change room. To assist with access into the pool an aquatic wheelchair is available for use, and both the 25 metre, 6 lane pool and the multipurpose pool have access ramps into the water.

The gym is open 7 days a week and has a range of cardio and resistance training machines as well as free weights to cater for the beginner weight lifter as well as the more experienced trainer. There is also ramp access to the gym.

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Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre

The Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre, where children are actively encouraged to touch the exhibits!

It has live aquaria, a very popular touch tank where you can get up close and personal with live marine animals, beautiful video footage, microscopes, a beach combing table and loads of information about the temperate marine environment.

With qualified marine scientists on staff, there are indoor and outdoor activities that will fill the family with wonder: enjoy a Rocky Shore Ramble or guided Snorkel Tour or the kids can participate in indoor educational craft activities during school holidays.

Each Spring you can watch whales with the team at Rotary Lookout. Guides are on site each Tuesday and Wednesday in September and October, between 10am and 12pm. They have lots of tips on what to look for, along with equipment and and suggestions for other places to spot whales on the Sapphire Coast.

The centre’s opening hours are from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday

School holidays: 9:30am to 3:30pm Monday to Saturday.

The Centre will open outside these hours for a booking of 10 or more.

“The kids were so entertained with hands-on activities, the touch tank is the best!”

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Montreal Goldfield

The stamping machine has been restored and sits at the entrance to the site.

Montreal Goldfield’s story of gold, unsolved mystery and intrigue is unique.

The goldfield is located approximately 7km north of spectacular Bermagui on the far south coast of NSW and is a rare coastal alluvial goldfield, first mined in 1880.

Guided tours by local historians reveal the mysteries and fascinating anecdotes of times gone by. Follow boardwalks through the beautiful native forest, re-grown since the days of the gold-rush moonscape. Peer down the vertical mine shafts, try your hand at water divining. Time has brought back to life a forest of tree ferns, eucalypts and orchids, inhabited by sugar gliders, possums, lizards and diverse bird life.

The gold formed in igneous rocks in the hinterland over 30 million years ago, and as these ancient rocks were eroded by high levels of rainfall, traces of gold washed down rivers to accumulate in riverbed gravel. These ancient gravels were exposed by coastal erosion, to be discovered and mined some 30 million years after they originally formed.

Tours run daily at 2pm, or by appointment, and take about 1 1/4 hours. On Open Days, feast on old-time damper and tea.

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Magic Mountain

Enjoy a full day of rides, thrills and spills at Merimbula’s iconic family fun park. Conquer the Diamond Python Rollercoaster, drive the Mini Grand Prix Cars, slide down the Doom Tube and Black Hole Waterslides, cruise down the Toboggan Mountain Slide, play Mini Golf, discover the Triassic Dinosaur Park, push the Toddler Town Cars, bounce on the Jumping Castle and whooo hooo down the Magic Carpet Slide! Or try out the fantastic Tree Climb challenge!

Sooo many choices and sooo much fun. Bring a picnic, use the BBQs or grab lunch and a cuppa from the old Melbourne Tram.

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Merimbula Aquarium

From sharks to shrimps, the octopus to the tropical fish. It’s all on display in our living theatre of the deep. The Merimbula Aquarium has 27 tanks and a fantastic Oceanarium full of large ocean fish and sharks.

Fish feeding is the best time to visit as all tanks are fed and the fish become very active. Fish feeding is held every Monday, Wedesday and Friday at 11.30am and Monday to Friday during School Holidays.

The Aquarium Kids Club is held 6.45pm every Wednesday and Thursday nights during January. Activities are held in the Aquarium including a Touch Tank on display for children to hold some some marine creatures.

Aquarium Group Tours. We offer discounts for group bookings and can organise age-specific aquarium tours for school groups. Contact us for more details.

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Coastlife Adventures

Coastlife Adventures Surf Grom School.

Life is an adventure, and there is no place better to explore than the magnificent wilderness coast.

The stunning sandy beaches at Tathra, Merimbula and Pambula provide the perfect environment to try stand up paddling or surfing. For a real adventure come explore with us on a one of our sea or river kayak tours, or (for a fun family day out) the walk and raft day is always a winner.

Our long term success is based on a combination of friendly professional instructors, an effective teaching technique and the use of the latest technology equipment.

Book your next adventure now online, or call our office to learn more.

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Mandeni Family Fun Park & Golf Centre

3 courses to choose from, all designed for learning how to ride the obstacle you might find on any mountain bike ride. It is set out in an easier to harder progression. Great for all ages to improve their riding skills and balance. You’ll find burms, log rides and crossing, bumps jumps and bridges. Both the cross country and skills park are to IMBA standard.